December 5th News

Greetings to all of you and welcome to Christmas 2010… Yes, indeed, the season is upon us once again. I am sure that many of you have already begun the bevy of activities that are associated with this time of year. Buying presents, decorating the house and yard, setting up the tree.

We’ll start all of that this Saturday (my wife’s birthday is Nov. 29th so we wait till that has passed before moving into Christmas). But, maybe you are like me. As much as I love Christmas, I always head into it with a bit of a concern… How do I keep the real meaning of Christmas from being pushed aside with all the various activities of Christmas?

(Make sure you see the end of this post– there is a great ministry opportunity!)

I thought about that as I watched some Christmas specials on TV with my son this week (none of which mentioned the name Jesus).

So, how can we keep our hearts and minds on Jesus and not on Christmas (I know that sounds a bit odd– but when I say “Christmas” I am talking about all the extraneous stuff). Well, that’s what we are going to be talking about this week and in the weeks before Christmas Eve. We’ll be seeing how we can embrace the traditions and activities of the season with our hearts set on the reason for the season (okay, I know that phrase is cliche– but cliches exist for because they contain some truth).

This week we will look at a very familiar passage in scripture– perhaps the most well-know verses in the Bible. It is not usually considered a Christmas story, but it really is– in fact, I think it captures the meaning and significance of the holiday better than anything else. To prepare, read John 3:16-17. Think about these verses. Read them over several times. Ponder each word. They tell us everything we need to know about God, his Son, and us. They are rich in power and beauty.

Also, I would like you to think about the ways that you keep the real meaning of Christmas in the forefront of you mind during the business of the season. Do you have any traditions or activities to remind you about Jesus?

Finally, lets all pray for each other and for our church– pray that we will embrace this Christmas and enjoy every aspect… that we may experience all the awe and wonder we can.

May God bless you and your family during this Christmas season!

Looking forward to Sunday!

Grace and peace,

Doug

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Grace2F Happenings

Russell House Ministry

We have a great ministry to the residents of Russell House (across the street from Hilltop Community). We’ve been helping residents empty and then load up their kitchens during a renovation.

We also have a chance– because of the relationships we’ve established to help with other needs. I just got this from Dale Browning this week– take a look and see if you can help:

There is a need for a single bed, mattress and frame for one of the residents
at the Russell House.

I may be able to locate a day bed for the immediate as
the woman is currently sleeping on the floor, but if anyone knows of one
that could be donated please contact me as soon as possible.

Additionally, there are two ladies that will need some help this week or next
moving some things. If anyone is interested in helping for a couple of hours
please let me know. 715-8177 (cell)